Lacing-hook.



Patented Oct. 19, 1909.

Altokhy FRANK L. REEDER, 0F SENECA, NEBRASKA.

LACING-HOOK.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented 0a. 19, race.

Application filed October 31, 1907, Serial No. 400,042. Renewed February 19, 1909. Serial No. 478,874.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, FRANK L. REEDER, a citizen of the United States, residing at Seneca, in the county of Thomas and State of Nebraska, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Lacing-Hooks, of which the following is a specification.

This invention relates to certain new and useful improvements in lacing hooks for shoes, and it has for its objects among others to provide a simple and cheap yet durable and eflieient lacing hook, easily applied to the shoe and which cannot be easily broken or injured and in which the garments of the wearer will not be apt to catch.

The lacing hook is designed to be applied to the shoe upper by being placed between two thicknesses of material and fastened by means of a projection on the shank of the hook, which passes through one of the thick nesses of material and is riveted or upset thereon. The free end of the lace-receiving portion of the hook lies in the plane of the shank and extends toward the same, and when the lace is therein there is no projecting portion to catch into the garments of the wearer.

Other objects and advantages of the invention will hereinafter appear and the novel features thereof will be particularly pointed out in the appended claim.

The invention is clearly illustrated in the accompanying drawings, which, with the numerals of reference marked thereon, form a part of this specification, and in which Figure 1 is a perspective View of a shoe equipped with my improved lacing hooks.

Fig. 2 1s a perspective view of one of the hooks. Fig. 3 is a cross section through a portion of the upper with one of the hooks secured thereto the projections being shown in section.

Like numerals of reference indicate like parts throughout the several views.

Referring now to the details of the drawings 1 designates the improved lacing hook which comprises a flat elongated shank portion 2 of considerable width provided at one end upon one side with a lug or projection 3 extending at substantially a right angle to the length of the shank, and this projection or lug may be either solid, as shown in Fig. 2, or hollow or tubular, as shown at 4 in Fig. 3. The opposite end of the shank is deflected, as at 5, from the side upon which the lug or projection 3 is disposed and is thence extended substantially parallel with the shank portion, as seen at 6, and thence at a right angle, as seen at 7, the free end portion 8 being bent substantially at right angles to the portion 7 and extended toward the main portion of the shank and in a plane therewith, as shown clearly in Figs. 2 and 3. The opening 9 between the free end of the hook portion 8 and the adj acent end of the shank portion 2 is of sulficient width to receive the shoe lacings 10, it being noted that the recess 11 is in a plane below the level of the shank portion 2 and the hook portion 8.

In practice, the hook is disposed with its shank 2 between the two thicknesses of material l2 and 13, with the lug passed through an opening in the inner thickness 13, and this lug then upset or expanded, as shown for instance at 15 in Fig. 3, thus securely fastening the same in place.

Fig. 1 shows a shoe fully equipped with the improved form of lacing hooks, it being understood that the lace 10 is engaged with the hooks by being passed through the openings 9 and seated in the recesses or spaces 11, Fig. 1 clearly showing the manner in which the lace is engaged, and the way in which projecting portions are avoided so that the garments of the wearer will not become caught therein and damaged.

What is claimed as new is As an improved article of manufacture, the lacing hook herein described, embodying a fiat shank having hollow integral lug projecting therefrom at one end to pass through the material and serve as the sole securing means for said hook, the opposite end of said shank being deflected upon the same side as the lug, thence extended parallel with the shank, thence at a right angle, with the free end bent toward and in the plane of the shank with an opening therebetween communicating with a lace-engaging recess out of the plane of the shank, said lug when upset to secure the hook in position being of less length than the offset portion of the shank and disposed between the plane of the shank of the outermost face of said offset portion.

In testimony whereof I aflix my signature in presence of two witnesses.

FRANK L. REEDER.

Witnesses:

ALFRED W. FRANKs, HARRY D. UHLER. 

